Constitution of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society

CONSTITUTION OF THE OCEANIC ENGINEERING SOCIETY

(Effective January 1, 2006)

Section 1: Name This organization shall be known as the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, also known as the IEEE OES, and herein as the Society.

Section 2: Objectives The Society’s objectives shall be scientific, literary, and educational in character. The Society shall strive for the advancement of the theory and practice of electrotechnology, allied branches of engineering, and related arts and sciences, applied to all bodies of water; and the maintenance of high professional and ethical standards among its members and affiliates.

Section 3: Purpose The Society shall promote close cooperation and exchange of technical information among its members through publications and meetings. The Society shall foster the technical and professional growth of its members.

Section 4: Consonance with IEEE All provisions of the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures documents shall be always in consonance with the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures documents of the IEEE.

ARTICLE II – FIELD OF INTEREST

Section 1: Field of Interest The Field of Interest of the Society includes all aspects of science, engineering, and technology that address research, development, and operations pertaining to all bodies of water. This includes the creation of new capabilities and technologies from concept design through prototypes, testing, and operational systems to sense, explore, understand, develop, use, and responsibly manage natural resources.

Section 2: Cooperation with Other Groups The Society shall aid in promoting close cooperation and exchange of information with other IEEE Groups and Societies in the form of joint publications and sponsorship of meetings. Appropriate cooperative efforts may also be undertaken with professional or technical organizations that are not affiliated with the IEEE.

Section 3: Changing Field of Interest Statement The Society may revise its Field of Interest Statement using the process defined in the IEEE Technical Activities Board Operations Manual. Once approved by the IEEE Technical Activities Board, the change must be ratified as an amendment to this Constitution.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Eligibility IEEE members in any grade having a professional interest in any phase of the Field of Interest of the Society may become members of the Society upon application and payment of dues.

Section 2: Affiliates Any person having a professional interest in any phase of the Field of Interest of the Society and who is not a member of the IEEE may join the Society as an Affiliate upon application and payment of dues.

ARTICLE IV – FINANCES

Section 1: Annual Dues The Society shall collect annual dues from its members in accordance with the Bylaws of the IEEE.

Section 2: Meeting Registration Fees The Society may charge registration fees at its conferences, symposia, workshops, and other meetings. Registration fees for IEEE members and Society Affiliates may be less than for nonmembers.

Section 3: Additional Sources of Revenue The Society may derive income from its publications and raise revenues by other means as permitted by the Bylaws of the IEEE and the Society.

Section 4: Limitation on Financial Authority Neither the Society nor any officer or representative thereof shall have any authority to contract debts for, pledge the credit of, or in any way bind the IEEE or the Society, except within prior IEEE- approved Society budgets or plans, and in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society.

ARTICLE V – ADMINISTRATION

Section 1: Administrative Committee

1.1 – Powers and Duties of the Administrative Committee The Society shall be managed by an Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall set policies for the Society, direct the affairs and activities of the Society, evaluate proposals presented to the Society, elect the Officers of the Society, and establish Standing and Ad Hoc Committees of the Society. The Administrative Committee shall approve or reject appointments made by the President of the Society, such appointments having been made in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society. The Administrative Committee shall authorize meetings, publications, and activities consistent with the Objectives, Purpose, and Field of Interest of the Society. The Administrative Committee shall set the annual budget of the Society and shall approve or reject departures from the budget proposed in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society.

1.2 – Administrative Committee Membership The Administrative Committee shall comprise Elected Members, Officers of the Society, and Members Ex-officio. Nomination, Election, and Appointment Procedures shall be as specified in the Bylaws of the Society.

1.2.1 – Elected Members of the Administrative Committee. Elected Members must be Members of the Society of IEEE Member grade or higher at the time of election and throughout their term of office. The number of Elected Members shall be as specified in the Bylaws. Elected Members shall serve terms of three years. No more than two terms may be served consecutively. Eligibility is restored after a lapse of one year. One-third of the Elected Members shall be elected each year.

1.2.2 – Officers of the Society. Officers of the Society must be Members of the Society at the time of election and throughout their term of office. IEEE membership grade requirements shall be as specified in the Bylaws of the Society.

1.2.2.1 – Officers Named. The Officers of the Society shall be the President, the Senior Past President, the Junior Past President, the Vice President for Technical Activities, the Vice President for Professional Activities, the Vice President for Conference Development, the Vice President for Conference Operations, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Oceanic Engineering, the Treasurer, and the Secretary.

1.2.2.2 – Qualifications, Terms of Office, Powers and Duties of Officers. The Qualifications, Terms of Office, and Powers and Duties of the officers shall be as specified in the Bylaws.

1.2.2.3 – Election of Officers. Officers shall be elected as provided in the Bylaws at the last regular meeting of the Administrative Committee each calendar year, and shall take office on the following January 1. No more than two consecutive full terms in each elected office are permitted. Eligibility is restored after being out of office for one year.

1.2.3 – Members Ex-officio of the Administrative Committee Society and IEEE membership requirements for Members Ex- officio shall be as specified in the Bylaws of the Society.

1.3 – Powers and Duties of Administrative Committee Members Members of the Administrative Committee shall actively participate in the proceedings of the Committee and the activities of the Society.

1.4 – Voting Members of the Administrative Committee Elected Members and Officers of the Society are the Voting Members of the Administrative Committee. The Voting Members may vote on all matters before the Administrative Committee. Officers of the Society who are also Elected Members shall be limited to one vote. Members Exofficio may not vote on matters before the Administrative Committee except as specified in the Bylaws of the Society.

Section 2: Executive Committee

2.1 – Powers and Duties of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the Society between meetings of the Administrative Committee. Its actions shall be published to the Administrative Committee in a timely manner and become final only after approval by the Administrative Committee.

2.2 – Executive Committee Membership The Executive Committee shall comprise the Officers of the Society. Section 3: Provision for Removal of Administrative Committee Member A Member of the Administrative Committee who materially violates the Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, or Code of Ethics of the Society or the IEEE, or who engages in other conduct that is seriously prejudicial to the Society or the IEEE, may be removed from his or her position as provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI – CHAPTERS

Section 1: Chapters Authorized and Defined A Chapter is a subgroup of Society Members from a Section or Sections of the IEEE focusing on some aspect of the Field of Interest of the Society. A Chapter may be formed in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society and of the IEEE. A Joint Chapter may be formed with other Societies of the IEEE.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

Section 1: Technical Meetings The Society may organize and sponsor or co-sponsor meetings, conferences, symposia, workshops, or conventions either alone or in cooperation with other Societies, Technical Councils, Regional Councils, Sections, or Committees of the IEEE, or with other professional or technical organizations, subject to the IEEE Conference Guidelines. The Society shall organize and sponsor or co-sponsor at least one technical conference each year.

Section 2: Administrative Meetings The Administrative Committee shall hold at least two meetings each calendar year. One of these meetings may be replaced by a meeting of the Executive Committee. Such meetings require at least 30 days notice to all Administrative Committee members. A quorum for such meetings shall be defined in the Bylaws of the Society.

ARTICLE VIII – PUBLICATIONS

Section 1: Publications The Society shall publish at least one peer-reviewed journal. Other publications may include paper and electronic newsletters or magazines, proceedings, and web sites. Publications of the Society shall conform to IEEE and Society publication policies. The Society shall be responsible for the financial aspects of its publication program.

ARTICLE IX – BYLAWS

Section 1: Bylaws Authorized Bylaws shall be established for the purpose of governing the operations and administration of the Society.

Section 2: Amendment Procedure Notice of proposed changes to the Bylaws shall be sent to all Administrative Committee Members at least 30 days before a meeting at which the proposed changes are to be considered. Such changes to the Bylaws require an affirmative vote by at least two-thirds of the Voting Members of the Administrative Committee present in a face-toface meeting, provided that a majority of the Voting Members of the Administrative Committee cast affirmative votes.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendment Procedure Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by the Administrative Committee or by petition submitted to the Administrative Committee by five percent or more of the Members of the Society. In either case, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the IEEE Technical Activities Board for approval. After such approval, the proposed amendment shall be publicized in at least one of the Society’s publications or by direct communication to the membership. The proposed amendment shall be distributed by a ballot to all members of the Society at least 60 days before the date specified for the return of the ballots. The ballots shall carry a statement of the time limit for their return to the IEEE. Approval of the amendment by at least two-thirds of the ballots returned shall be necessary for its enactment.

Section 2: Effective Date All amendments to the Constitution shall become effective 30 days after all necessary approvals and notifications, unless a later date shall have been specified at the time the vote was taken.